Caught Testing: 2014 Volkswagen Golf R - Spy Shots

At $34,000, VW's next Golf R could be a performance bargain.

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For the first time our spy photographers have captured the next generation Golf R undergoing road tests on public roads in Germany. Despite wearing extensive camouflage over just about every inch of its body, this 5-door hatchback does offer a few visual hints about what's in store for the next version of Volkswagen's performance-oriented Golf. And yes, for the record, this prototype does have a pair of rear doors – though they're admittedly hard to spot beneath the heavy disguise.

For starters, the headlights feature rectangular-shaped LED frames that should give the front fascia a bolder appearance than the (relatively) bland face of the existing Golf R. An intercooler and radar sensor for intelligent cruise control can also be seen peeking out from behind the lower grille of this test car. Moving towards the back, there are now four exhaust outlets, versus two centrally located ones used in the current Golf R. The wheels appear to be 19-inches in diameter and wear hyper-aggressive tires that look as thin as rubber bands. In case you'd forgotten, the 2012 Golf R rolls on 18-inch alloys (225/40R18s front and rear).

If the 2014 Volkswagen Golf R can hold close to the current model's approximate base price of $35-grand, this turbocharged and all-wheel-drive hatchback could be a steal. While that's still a large outlay of cash, there are few vehicles with the all-season performance and real-world functionality of this high-performance VW. Expect the next Golf R to continue with a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-4, though total output is likely to rise from the existing model's 256 bhp. Something in the region of 280-bhp would position the next Golf R nicely against rivals like the Subaru WRX and the Mazdaspeed3.

A 6-speed manual or dual-clutch DSG automatic transmission will route power to a Haldex four-wheel-drive system. However, the biggest change comes via the chassis, as the next Golf switches to the highly versatile and notably lighter MQB architecture. We expect this platform to shave a couple hundred pounds of the Golf R's curb-weight that, in its current 3-door format, rings in at 3,325 lbs. These weight savings could also help overall fuel economy, which in the '12 Golf R stands at 19/27-mpg city/highway.